Display rack having movable parts



Jall- 1952 H. c. DOUGLAS DISPLAY RACK HAVING MOVABLE PARTS Filed Nov. 5, 1949 INVENTOR. "Home/ 6. flag/d5 BY Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK HAVING"MOVABLE PARTS w Homer- Douglas, Kansas City, Kans. v Application November 3, 1949, Serial No. 125333- 3 Claims. (01. 211- -1.6)

This invention relates to a display rack of the kind having a rotatable plate preferably disposed atan angle with respect to the. horizontal and provided with article supports thereon so formed and interconnected with actuating means-as to maintain the supports in a predetermined position with respect to the horizontal and the vertical as the plate rotates.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a display rack having a pair of rotatable plates provided with oifset axes, there being cranks pivotally interconnecting the plates whereby rotation of one of the plates imparts like movement to the other plate and the cranks each extending beyond .the outermost face of plates topresent an article support.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a display rack wherein all of theaforesaid cranks are provided with stabilizing means in the nature of wings integral therewith and interposed between the plates for .free sliding movement withrespect thereto. A

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel lubricating means for the cranks of the display device in the natureof .absorptive pads supported by the cranks themselves between the plates. v t

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a pair of plates as aforesaid wherein one of the plates has a relatively large, centrally disposed, circular opening for clearing a drive shaft'for the other plate, said opening circumscribi'ng a. plurality of supporting rollers for the'plate having the opening therein.

Other objects including. .particular details of construction will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein: I "Y Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of adisplay rack having movable parts made'in accordance with my present invention, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction; and

Fig. 2 a substantially central, vertical, crosssectional view taken on line III-11 of Fig. 1.

A hollow housing, broadly designated by the numeral I, may be provided if desired, with a suitable door or removable wall (not shown) to render the interior thereof readily accessible.

Housing II] is provided with a fiat, forwardmost wall l2 that is disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

A down-tumed flange l4 extending from front wall I2, serves as a supporting leg for thehousing Ill and is provided with a U-shaped resilient foot l6. Similar feet are provided for the housing [0 near the rearmost Wall thereof, one only being shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and designated by the numeral 18.

An electric motor. or other suitable prime mover 20 is mounted withinthe housing [0 through use of a bracket 22, said motor having, a horizontally disposed drive shaft .24 which in turn is provided with a relatively small pulley 26. A larger pulley 28 mounted on a shaft 30 above the.motor 20 within the housing [0 receive a continuous belt 32 and is also trained aboutvthe pulley 26 of motor 20. V

Shaft 30'has a worm 34 thereon that is in mesh with a gear 36 and in turn disposed within a tubular member 38. Member 38 rigidly secured within the housing l0, serves not onlyas a support for the shaft 30 but for a shaft 40 disposed at ,an angle and perpendicular to the wall l2 through which it extends. v

Gear 36 is rigidly secured to the shaft 40 as is a preferably circular plate 42 exteriorly of the housing a Plate 42 is provided-with an annular flange 44 that extends toward the wall l2 of housing 10 and is mounted on the shaft 40 through the medium of a. nut 46 rigid to the innermost face of plate 42 and threaded on the proximal outermost end of shaft 40. Plate 42 is substantially parallel in width and spaced from the outermost face of wall l2 as is a second circular plate 48 having a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of plate 42. Plate 48 is within the flange 44 of plate 42 and is provided with a relatively large circular and centrally-disposed opening 50. Opening 50 clears the shaft 4D and is eccentrically disposed with respect thereto.

A plurality of rollers 52 is mounted for free rotation on the outermost face of wall l2 in engagement with the periphery of opening Ell. Rollers 52 are each provided with an external flange 54 that underlies the plate 48 and serves as a support therefor. H

A plurality of cranks broadly designated by the numeral 56 interconnect the plates 42 and 48 and serve primarily to impart rotative movement to the latter. Cranks 56 are identical and each include an arm 58 that underlies the plate 42; a finger 60 on one end of the arm 58 and perpendicular thereto; a second finger 62; a horizontal branch 64; and a vertical leg 66. The finger 60 is rotatably mounted within an opening 68 in the plate 48 adjacent its peripheral edge whereas the finger 62 projecting oppositely with respect to finger an passes through a bushing 10 mounted within the plate 42 in spaced relationship with the peripheral edge of the latter. The branch 64 extends outwardly from the bushing 10 and from the outermost face of plate 42, whereas the leg 66 extends upwardly from the outermost end of the branch 64 and is integral therewith.

Each arm 58 has a pair of laterally extending loops or -zwingsilz Liormed integrally therewith. The wings ""12" are oppositely disposed within a common plane and interposed between the proximal faces of plates 42 and. 48.

Each finger 60 is provided with azsmall disclike pad of absorptive material 14 that is threaded thereon and interposed between the wings n and the proximal face of plate 48.

4 or supporting means provided in lieu of branches 64 and legs 66 or in conjunction therewith.

The angularly disposed, outermost plate 42 completely hides from view the plate 48, all of its associated parts and the housing Ill.

The display device is not only attractive but produces a pleasing and interesting effect that is sure to attract attention and aid in the selling and advertising of various types of articles of Lmerchandise. 'More par ticnlarly, the: entire device is simple, inexpensive," requires little power to operate and can be used for extremely long paratus is capable of many changes and modifications, "it"isdesired to be limited only by the Shaft 40 is hollow and an elongated rodlB extends therethrough, rod 16 being held -agaii-nst rotation by a collar 18tafiixed in any suitable manner to the member-38 .and havinglza setscrevv :l80uthat' bears against rod 16. Rod 'lB terminates at its opposite'zend beyond the outermost face of "plate 42 in .azhorizontalzbranch' 82 and a vertical leg 84.

In operation, as soon zas the'tmotorlzfi is energized, "sl iaft 40 WilLbei caused toerotate through :s'haft 24, pulley J26, :belti32, pulley "28, shaft 39,

worm 34 and "gear 36. Upon rotation of the shaft -lfl,mlate' 42 willaccordingly rotate andim- 1 part similar rotative movement to the "-plate '48. The cranks ifi serve tossoi-actuate plate '48 because 0f the :pivotal: connection between fingers 152 and bushing 70, as wellas between theifing-ers B0 and the openings 68 in plate 48. of the -pads -H with -a suitable lubricant serves to impede wearbetween fingers-60 and their -corbecause of the fact that the rod 16 is immovable.

Because of -the provision of the wings lz within 'the arm 58 of "cranks 56,- all of such *cranks 56 saturating will be-Stibi1i2ed and held in the'position shown since wings "1 2 cannot tip when slidably interposed between the plates and 48-asshown.

Itis furthermore apparent that=*preci'seness of construction is not necessary because of the fact that "the 'fiexible "wing-elements 72 will yieldor s read sunicient-l duringtendenciesmf binding and permit continued rotationof thepla'tes' fZ articles. Relatively'sma-ll artibleS dfmertrhanv "dise' may well "be "hung *or otherwise affixed "-tothe branches 64 and/or thelegs fi fi or other shelvmg .-spiritofvthisinvention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a di'splay app'aratus, a first:and-a;:se'cond plate;. said platesibeirigisaperimposedi andmount- Jed for rotationsoni ofiseti axes a 'crank pivotally interconnecting theiplatesfor imparting rotative 'movement' toIsaid -secondmlate as the first pla'te is rotated; :and' fstabili'zin'g means" for the crank disposed between the plates sand includingsa pair of oppositely extending wingszion :the crank.

'12. -In"-.a display apparatus, a first 'andzza rsecond T plate, :2 said rplates :be'ing superimposed "and mounted for: rotationon io'ffsetliaxes a crank Lpivotally-interconnecting athe plates for impart- :ing rotative movement to saidlseco'nd plate asthe first plate .is 'rota'ted; and iati least one wing .in-

: .(REEERENGESICITJED f'I'he "following'references" are? of? recordin the file i'of'this "patent": V I

' wum r nb :sfiwrns PATENTS Number Name Date D. T561682 *S i ilfimers Dec. 27,1909 Df1573033 Douglas Janfsl, i950 32"7-';'-7 i"-1 Truegfl'n r-Oct. 6, i885 1;286,021 Varble -nug."7, @9 17 1,968,448 Harrison JulyBl, 1934 W -F 0REiGN; PATEN-TS Number Gountry Date 2 -541 Grat Britain -";fl-iily" 2, l877 Switzerland ;-$June 16,21'920 

